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Guest Blog: Esther in Indonesia

She is a dearly loved member of our Kerith family. She and her late husband Michael served as missionaries for many years. Esther bravely made the decision to travel again, and she has recently returned from Indonesia. Here's her story:

Whilst Michael was on his last days on earth in August
2017 he received a request from the Island of Madura, Indonesia asking us to
return to the town of Pamekasen, Madura, Indonesia where we had begun our
Missions work in July 1973 exactly one year after we were married. They were keen
to have us see what God had been doing in the years since we’d moved on and we
excitedly said ‘Yes’ we will come!Obviously that had to go on hold for a while because I didn’t feel I
could, or even wanted to go alone!

Anyway around March/April time 2018, I begun to feel a
gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit urging me to think some more about it! It was
like a feeling of wanting to know for myself what had been happening and that I
needed to be intentional about my decision to plan a trip across to the Island.
I was fearful to go alone because Madura was, and still is a 99% fanatically
Muslim Island, and we had many negative memories of our five and a half years
working there! Rotten eggs, tomatoes and uncouth words and spitting seemed to
regularly come in our direction. Plus many other hurtful happenings whichcould spoil and destroy, but I finally knew I
had to go!

I made my plans with my family in mind and felt good
about it! Mario, Angela, and baby Kade (4 months old) would have a holiday in
Singapore and I’d spend the first six days with them. Then with the advise of a
very dear pastor and friend I would spend the next six days in East Java and
decide how we would organise this. I presumed it would be me with another very
special lady friend. Unknown to me, a team was being arranged for us to stay in
a hotel and spend time in prayer and worship and warfare.I had no idea where the money was coming from
to do all of this but we had like a mini conference lifting Madura and it’s
people to Jesus. Breaking the chains of darkness and releasing life and freedom
to the Madurese people. I was so excited and wondered what was coming next!

Then it was Wednesday and I heard it being discussed that
a twelve seater mini bus would be waiting outside the hotel to take twelve of
us to Madura! No need to go across the Straits of Madura on a boat any more. A
bridge had been built across to the island. I remembered meeting some Young
missionaries who hadprophesied that
after the bridge was built the gospel would come to Madura!

So, finally twelve of us, different nationalities but
almost all Asian, mounted the bus andwe sang and worshipped God together as the driver skilfully drove the
bus for five plus hours along narrow roads, cluttered with animals, chickens
and humans and all kinds of traffic. I was so excited to be going back to
Madura despite all kinds of noises and mosque sounds, motor bikes becaks (three
wheeled bikes), buses, trucks and children. At least we had air-con and talked
non-stop to one another.

Driving along the coast reminded me of the first time we
went to Champlong beach to swim, but discovered the beach was a toilet and we
kept treading in human excretion! On our way back to Java we stopped at the
beach and what a change it all was with many people swimming like in the West.
Fishermen were bringing in the fish and people were buying and selling at the
market. There were even toilets that were relatively clean!

On arrival in Pamekasen the mosque was greeting our
arrival. I couldn’t see anything I remembered and was desperately looking for
our old tumble-down church where we taught our early believers. I was looking
for the first home we had with rats, cockroaches, a hole in the ground for the
toilet and then suddenly the bus was pulling on to a driveway with a sign which
said ‘Jalan Kambodia’! Then I realised this was the street our church was on -
Kambodia Street! Nothing seemed recognisable. As we got off the bus I saw a new
sparkling modern church and people waiting to feed and water us after our long
journey! On the site of our old house was a brand new modern manse and I was
still trying to work it all out. How could this be? Before eating we couldn’t
wait to go into the church with a balcony which would seat probably 200 people.
They told us that they had around 150 plus attending with youth and children.
Neighbours were kind and no longer seemed troubled by Christians being in their
street. The mosque blazed out its welcome and all seemed peacefully content
that Christians were living and worshipping so close to them.

After eating I was asked to come and pray with a young
Madurese girl who had come to know Jesus. She was wearing her Muslim clothes
but had invited Jesus into her life.

A lovely young couple from Java were pastoring the work
and seemed very happy to welcome founder members to their church. How good and
gracious is our God! It hardly seemed possible that in 1973-1978 we’d had so
much to contend with and much sickness and we had often wondered if it was
worth it all. I have no doubt is saying that it was worth it all! Sickness,
disease was rife amongst us but Jesus kept us there for five and a half years and
we can now truly say that Jesus has done ALL things well - Very Well!

On the way home back into Java we had great joy in
visiting an amazing orphanage run by a lady called Ibu Hannah. She used to feed
hundreds of Madurese kids under the bridge and clothe them. What a story, too
long to tell here, but it really glorifies Jesus! Madura has changed because
people have seen Jesus in action! Thank you Jesus for giving us the opportunity
to serve you there in Madura!

Would you join me in this Prayer?

Thank you God for the legacy that you left behind in Indonesia through the faithful years of service by Michael and Esther.

Thank you for transformed lives in Madura, the fruit and evidence of Your work.

Thank you for safe travels for Esther and her family...and for her safe return!

Thank you for all we can learn and be challenged to do through Esther's story.

Thank you that You have plans and purposes for each one of us to fulfil, bringing heaven to earth.

Use us, place dreams inside us, speak to us and help us to listen and then to be obedient

In the name of Jesus, Amen

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Comments

I find this whole piece appalling. People in Indonesia are Muslim. Not fanatical just Muslim. Please leave people to get on with their own religious beliefs and you get on with your own. Spelling check. Advice not advise Excrement not excretions.

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About Me

Hi I'm Catrina Benham, I'm married to Simon and we have three incredible young adults, Zach, Jacob and Alice. Our labrador Sam is also part of the family!
I love our Church, Kerith Community Church. I'm responsible for our two morning meetings in Bracknell -
come and visit anytime! We meet on Sundays at 9:30 10:30 (Sandhurst) 11:30 and 6pm
www.kerith.church
I lead the charge for REAL, our annual women's conference; and through that, God has opened doors for me to travel to eastern Europe, supporting other female leaders as they gather women. It's not something I ever thought I'd do, but it's an exciting adventure I'm grateful to God for.